Senate confirms Keith Sonderling as Labor Department secretary

The Senate approved Keith Sonderling as the new secretary of the Department of Labor with a 47-41 vote, finalizing his transition from acting secretary, a role he has held since April. Sonderling’s career includes stints as a senior advisor in the department during Trump’s first administration, a Republican seat on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and an adjunct professorship at George Washington University.

He was nominated after Lori Chavez-DeRemer left the post for a private-sector position amid accusations of abusing her authority. Republican Senator Bill Cassidy highlighted Sonderling’s experience and his commitment to supporting workers and businesses, especially amid AI-driven workforce changes. Democratic senators opposed the nomination, citing concerns that the administration’s policies could weaken overtime rules and union power. The vote occurred just before senators returned to campaign for the upcoming midterm elections.